INTRODUCTION

Inmates in the custody of federal and provincial corrections facilities are
considered a high suicide risk group. Many factors have been noted as to why
the suicide rate in prisons is higher than the rate in the general population.
These range from factors surrounding incarceration to personal attributes.
Since prisons have such a significant suicide rate, attempts have been made to
reduce the incidence of suicide. Prevention, intervention and treatment
techniques have been used to reduce inmate suicide.

Inmates are considered a high suicide risk group. In 1996-97, the adult
inmate suicide rate was more than twice the suicide rate of the adult Canadian
population (4.0 per 10,000 and 1.7 per 10,000 respectively) (Canadian Centre
for Justice Statistics, 1998, p. 8), but has been noted as being up to 10 times
as high as the national average (Canadian Press Newswire, 1996).

The suicide rate in federal facilities has not shown any really dramatic
changes over recent years. From 1990-96, an average of 15 federal prisoners per
year committed suicide (Canadian Press Newswire, 1996). In 1989-90, the number
of suicides totalled 13 (Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, 1990, p.141),
andfor 1993-94, the number of suicides in federal facilities climbed to
24, and accounted for 49% of deaths in federal prisons (Correctional Services
Canada, 1994, p. 6). This rate has fallen in recent years. In 1995-96, the
number of suicides was only 17, and in 1996-97, it dropped even further to 10
which accounted for 21% of federal inmate deaths (CCJS, 1998, p. 8). The
numbers are slightly higher for provincial correctional facilities. Provincial
inmate suicides totalled 21 in 1989-90 (CCJS, 1990, p. 141) and in 1993-94,
suicides totalled 23 and accounted for 46% of deaths (Correctional Services
Canada, 1994. p. 6). In 1996-97, the suicide number climbed to 27, and
constituted 61% of inmate deaths. Suicide constitutes the leading cause of
death for those in custody.

Several observations have been made concerning suicide among individuals in
custody:

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both maximum and medium security
institutions have higher rates of suicide than minimum security institutions,
and remand centres show the highest rates (Staff member, personal
communication, Correctional Service of Canada, February 2, 1999);

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the majority of those who commit suicide are
men: for 1991-97, 92 males committed suicide while only one female committed
suicide (Correctional Services Canada, 1998);

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age does not correlate with suicide rate;

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a higher rate of suicide is evident in inmates
convicted of crimes against another person than inmates convicted of property
crimes;